The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1887-02-18
THE TRIAL OF EDW. UNGER
MADE sENsATIONAL nv THE
mURDHRER's TESTIMONY.
He'Describes I'm n highly Dramatic
Manner che Quarrel with
His Victim.

He.Describes In a Highly Dramatic
Manner the Quarrel with
HIS Victim.
NEW YoRK, February 1.-THE trial
OF Edward Unger, for the murder Of
Louis Bohle, whose body he cut up,
packed in 0 trunk and shipped to Bal
timore, reached an interesting snd
dramatic stage today. Testimony for
the defense occupied the day. The
first witness was inspector Byrnes, who
described the circumstances under
which UDger was led TO make his On
fession OF the crime. He eaid Unger
manifested no anxiety a TO tho result
to himself, put feared it would iDjure
his children, and he made the inspect
or promise to secure places for his son
and two pretty daughters should they
lose the ones they had. Witnesses
then testified TO Unger's good charac-
ter. UDger himself was tnen put on
the stand, and in answer to questions
from his attorney, detailed the story OF
his life, including eight years. service
in the United States Navy. He was
on a man Of war at the siege and re-
duction Of Forts Jackson aud st. Phil
ip, at New 0rleans, lost the hearing Of
n ear in that engagement, was
wounded in the leg, commanded sev-
eral dispatch boats, and was honor
ably discharged. Then followed a
circnmstantial account of the
mean9 OF livelihood which be
had followed since his discharge; his
meeting with Bohle; their subsequent
searches for a location for a saloon and
for purchasers for Bodies sausage
cas- ings. Bohle could not make up
his mind. Unger became disguised
with him and advised him to get some
n else to 60 into partnership with
him. Bohle became morose and they
quarreled. Bohle accused him Of
cheating in the part OF the sausage
castings. Bohle brooded over 1t, and
the night OF January 10th, When Un-
gers boy went out, Unger was writing
or reading, Bohle sat still and NUT
tered until Unger got mad and got up
and poked the fire. Witness said that
Bohle sat on the sofa and said: "You
are all damned"
WlthCbS bdiug OOu yOu Chll INV
that" and put his hand on Bohle's
head. Bohle struck him In the neck,
Unger struck at him with the poker
and Bohle grabbed a big butcher knife
that was on the table and made a rush.
Unger grabbed the hammer from the
tool box and struck Bohle as he came
on. Unger's hand was cut a little bit.
Bodies hand was raised at Ungsr, he
grabbed his coat sleeve and held of
the knife. AS the old man described
the scene, he re-enacted his part of the
tragedy. AT this point he stood up
and seemed t. be reaching high up at
the hand which held the knife over
him. The little girls had been taken
out OF the room before he began his
evidence.
Witness, continuing, said that he
struck Bohle, he thought, about on
the top OF his head, and as Bohle fell
| back on the sofa Unger looked at him
and saw that he was dead.
"You knew August Bohle was dead"
said Mr.. Howe, quietly.
"Yes, sir" answered Unger, in sub
sued tones. 81 knew that he was
dead, and l thought what l should do.
1t was nearly 10 o'clock and my boy
would soon be back, so l pulled out
the settee, put Bohle behind il and
wiped the blood of the sofa, when l
got ready to receive my boy. When
he came l told him Bohle was gone
and we went to bed"
Unger related the story of:the night
Of horror which passed while the body
OF Bohle was behind the cot. He had
fitlul sleep, broken by horrible dreams,
and in each OF them Bohle appeared
standing at his bed. Unger would
start up and spring out of bed. Again
and again this was repeated. Then
the story OF bow he cut up the re-
mains was told in ali its details. The
head would not go in the trunk with
all his clothes on, and Unger wrapped
it in a piece OF cloth with
some scraps OF iron and dropped
it of the ferry boat. The trunk
was 80 full without 1t that Uuger was
obliged to bear his weight upon the
lid in closing IL. The other events
the removing the trunk to a saloon,
then to Williamson G, and its ship
ment to Baltimore were given. Unger
said in closing, 81 don't know, but il
seems that j did IL l don't seem to be
awake; | am a miserable man /; / seem
to be dreaming ever since; 1 certainly
did II in self defense; | can't blame
myself IL | I'M a miserable man."
That was all. Unger's voice had
sunk lower and grew more husky until
his words were scarcely audible. The
courtroom was as still as death during
his recital. The jury leaned forward
to catch every syllable. When he was
through every eye was on him rs lie
came down from the stand, with every
movement indicating age or feeble
ness. After recess Unger was cross
examined. He again described the
iracas infinitely aud with the slightest
variation from his former relation,
and as he described and enacted his
part in the fight, Unger's face was a
study. The moment when he was re.
lating, with uplifted hand how he held
the arm Of Bohle who had a butcher
knife In his hand, there was the ex-
preston Of hard exertion and trial OF
strength in Upger's face, and when he,
in his memory, ran from the furious
knife, and tod how he stepped aside
with n hand on the bedroom
door, reached half behind him with
the other for the hammer in the tool
chest, keeping his eyes on his assail-
ant meanwhile. There was that right.
ened, hurried, terrible look which one
might expect TO see on tie face OF one
in that actual scene. He said: 81
did not know that l would grab the
hammer. There we're irons there, and
l might throw a piece of iron at him.
As l struggled to hold Bodies right
arm aloft aud to strike him with the
hammer" be said. 81 knew l was
gone il he got his arm LOOSE with that